the first quarter of 2012 has nearly passed and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your warm welcome and support since I became the new INSME Secretary General.

The start was challenging, intense and positive and I enjoy the collaborative atmosphere created by the INSME team. Special thanks go to Simona Marzetti, INSME Secretary general until December 2011 for all the precious and constant commitment which was the strong and powerful basis to succeed in making the INSME network expand.

I am honored to announce that the INSME family since the beginning of 2012 has been growing and we warmly welcome 6 new members to our network.

INSME is becoming more and more global representing 86 institutions from 35 different countries around the world - the "new entries" are from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman - and those synergies and increasing collaboration potential are more and more developing a constructive environment for an authentic win-win-situation for all members and stakeholders of the innovation eco-system. This helps to create additional business opportunities and fruitful connections as well as to leverage and fine-tune proper performances to deliver high-quality services to clients by minimizing time-consumption.

I am sure you perceived my enthusiasm and passion to get on the INSME train and reach new destinations and goals set by the INSME General Assembly.

By looking at this picture - that I share with you for further inspiration - I brainstormed about some new services and tools to put on your disposal and make INSME even more innovative, interactive, passionate and ... spicy!!Be surprised!

I thank all the active members that provided the Secretariat and myself with interesting information about news, upcoming events and initiatives and our partners - especially the media-partners that highlighted the upcoming 8th INSME Annual Meeting 2012 in their various publications and web portals.

A good start needs a good follow up - let's enhance joint efforts to further help innovation stakeholders to make innovation happen in SMEs by reaching even wider geographical areas!

Meet you all at Daejeon during our
Annual Meeting
(22nd to 25th of May 2012)
and remember: Success is sometimes just a smile away...

Registration is now open: hurry up to benefit from the early bird fees.

On the 25th of May 2012 in Daejeon the INSME Association, together with WTA World Technopolis Association and UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is organising an international training on "Managing the innovation-economy: challenges and opportunities for SMEs".

New INSME Vice President

The INSME Association is pleased to announce that Dr. Ibrahim Al Mansoori - Chief Operating Officer at Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development - UAE (INSME Member) has been nominated as new INSME Vice-President.

We wish him a successful start in this new role and take this opportunity to thank Dr. Ing. Hamad Al Hashemi, former Vice President from Dubai Institute of technology (DIT), for his precious collaboration and inputs during his vice-presidency.

Keep yourself updated about the life of the INSME network on our portal: www.insme.org

New Members joined the Network

The INSME Association is pleased to welcome the following organizations which recently joined our Network:

Ten women who have excelled in developing innovative business ideas and in providing jobs and increasing income in their communities have been selected for the Empretec Women in Business Award and the winners will be announced during the UNCTAD XIII quadrennial conference in Doha, Qatar, in April 2012.

Ms. Simona Marzetti, INSME Board Advisor and former Secretary general, is among the panel members of the Empretec Award 2012.

META Group: TAKE IT UP @ the Innovation Info Days and Kauffman FastTrac META Group Europe Entrepreneurs Award

Innovation Info Days is an opportunity for the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) to be informed about the current state of play in the area of innovation support.

In Brussels, TAKE IT UP, a project managed by META Group where the INSME Association is partnering, recently presented to EEN members the Warehouse for Innovation Support and the innovative tools and services

Innovation Service Providers from EEN had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss about the adoption and uptake of the new services developed by the Europe INNOVA partnerships.

INSME's Picks in the News

On 20-21 February 2012, EU Ministers debated on the Horizon 2020 strategic framework programme (2014-2020), following a presentation given by the European Commission. The discussion had its focus on the international cooperation, social sciences and humanities and the participation of SMEs in Horizon 2020. Ministers stressed the importance of facilitating their involvement by a series of actions (i.e. simplification of instruments for SMEs, promotion of clusters, better access to venture capital, partnerships etc). The Danish Presidency of the EU Council will aim at defining the content of the programme by May 2012.

Focus on...INSME Members

Sharakah Development Fund for Youth Projects

Sharakah - Development Fund for Youth Projects is the Oman's leading entrepreneurial fund which provides services and programs dedicated towards the establishment & growth of Omani businesses and in doing so add value to Omani national economy and its community.

The organization aims at supporting Omani entrepreneurs by providing the necessary funding and expertise needed to transform their business ideas into profitable ventures.

About IPR In China

China IPR SME Help Desk (INSME Partner) published this article, as a continuation from the previous one (see the INSMEnews n.91) to further address Intellectual Property issues across subsectors of the textile industry, including textile machinery, yarns and specialty fabrics, finished fabrics and brand apparel & accessories. The areas of IP most relevant to the above sectors are discussed over two parts, with this second part addressing copyrights, transfer of technology and trade secrets. For more information on trademarks and patents, please refer to last month's article.

Download the Guide to IPR Protection in China for the Creative Industries (part II) here

Tenders & Calls

EU: MANUNET Call 2012

Applicants: consortia consisting of at least 2 independent SMEs belonging to 2 participating countries, or 2 regions in different countries; large companies, academic research groups, universities or other public organisations, as well as subcontractors, may also participate according to their regional/national financing regulations, as long as there are 2 independent SMEs belonging to 2 different participating countries.

EU: "European Creative Districts" Call for proposals

Organiser: European Commission - DG Enterprise and Industry

Applicants: EU Member States, Non-EU-member countries that are participating in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) of the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, which include Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey, Serbia and Albania.

Objective: to support two large-scale demonstrators, "European Creative Districts" that aim at demonstrating the transformative power of creative industries for the rejuvenation of traditional industrial regions.

Publications

European Industrial Competitiveness Report 2011

This report represents the 14th edition of the Commission's European Competitiveness Report (ECR).

It analyses a number of topics that are relevant for the competitiveness of the EU industry and economy. The analysis is based on economic theory and empirical research. The aim of the report is to contribute to policymaking by drawing attention to recent economic trends and developments and by discussing policy implications.

The report goes into detail first on the overall economic performance and its impact on productivity, the key factors for competitiveness in the long term, as well as the role of R&D and innovation in this process.

It also analyses the relationship between the EU industrial and competition policies as well as the changes in this respect that have taken place over the last decade.

Taking the objective of the CLUSNET project into account - to improve the effectiveness of cluster support policies in larger European city-regions- through the analysis of cluster programmes and organized clusters in the involved cities, the project aimed at producing operational policy recommendations targeting each partner city on how to strengthen their efforts in cluster policy support.

Knowledge Transfer Study: Workshop summary now available

The "Knowledge Transfer Study" took place on 30th of September 2011 in Rome. This workshop supported the implementation of the European Commission's 2008 Recommendation on the Management of Intellectual Property (IP) in knowledge transfer (KT) activities and Code of Practice for universities and public research organizations.

The main result of the workshop revealed: a possible need for pro-active marketing of knowledge, a need for better spending of available public funds and a need to establish improved reward systems for KT. IP valorization is one path to be pursued in order to get out of the spiral of debt in Europe.

Recommended Website

WIPO GREEN - The Sustainable Technology Marketplace (Pilot Version)

The objective of the WIPO GREEN, developed by WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization (INSME Observer) is to contribute to the accelerated adaptation and deployment of environmental technologies, particularly in developing countries and emerging economies. It is WIPO's mandate to develop practically useful tools in order to contribute to the joint effort to find solutions to the challenge of climate change.

This objective shall be achieved through the creation of a platform where public and private sector entities from all around the world can meet, collaborate and learn about existing technology and networking opportunities, available funding for implementation and project support services/technical assistance.

Recommended Newsletter

WTA newsletter

The World Technolopis Association Newsletter is a bi-monthly communication published by WTA (INSME Member) with the aim to create a Global Network leading a sustainable Technopolis development; to connect science and technology with Regional Innovation; to create a collaborative partnership and to promote the knowledge and technology exchange. It also reviews major policies and business activities of the WTA events and conferences.

Events

Highlighted events

The event, co-organized by EBAN - The European Trade Association for Business Angels, Seed Funds, and other Early Stage Market Players (INSME Member) and NBAA - National Business-Angels Association Russia, is the leading meeting point for the European early stage investment community bringing together over 350 participants from Europe and abroad.

The EBAN Congress and Awards are organized in the context of Russia's First National Business Angels Week, an initiative that reaches out to 35 various early stage VC events across 28 regions spread from Irkutsk (Lake Baikal area) to Saint-Petersburg.

The XXIII ISPIM Conference, organized by ISPIM - International Society for Professional Innovation Management (INSME Member) and hosted by La Salle University in partnership with Orbita97, will bring together around 450 innovation experts from 55 countries.

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